Pre-conference Program

There are a host of pre-conference learning events and activities happening prior to the 2017 Community Foundations Conference in Ottawa-Gatineau.

Please note that pre-conference program activities must be registered for separately from the 2017 Community Foundations Conference.

Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Peer Gatherings

Community Foundations of Canada’s 2017 Peer Gatherings will provide professional development opportunities for community foundation staff along with a chance to reconnect and share knowledge about specific areas of practice. Open to community foundations staff only.

If you are interested in helping to curate the discussions for the peer gatherings, please contact us.

Francophonie Summit

A meeting of francophone philanthropic leaders from Canada and around the world to discuss key issues in community philanthropy and opportunities for collaboration. This meeting will take place entirely in French.

Please note that this meeting intended for grant-makers and networks of grant-makers, to support their collaboration. Thank you for your understanding.

Thursday, May 11, 2017

Master Classes

As part of the pre-conference program during the morning of May 11, the 2017 Master Classes will offer participants a deeper dive into important areas of community foundation work.

Time: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.Registration: $25

Navigating Trends in Family Philanthropy: Learn about the important trends impacting family philanthropy today and how to make decisions about giving vehicles, governance, family engagement, and operations that are relevant for future generations.

International Vital Signs Gathering: Learn how the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals are connected to community foundation work and how Vital Signs can provide the leadership needed to align our work globally for greater impact.

Tricks of the Trade for Board Chairs and Vice-Chairs: Explore how to advance the leadership of your Board of Directors and help a community foundation grow while keeping up-to-date with topics related to policy, governance and diversity. For Board Chairs and Vice-Chairs only.

How to Make the Ask, for Small Community Foundations: Take the mystery out of making the ask for financial contributions and learn how to use a set of tools that will help community foundation volunteers and Board members making the ask a more comfortable and successful effort.

Belonging and the Indigenous Perspective – Reconciliation and You:Join this welcoming space to discuss what Reconciliation means in the context of community foundation work and how to engage local leaders, colleagues and Board members in respectful conversation and action.

Going big: Communities managing large-scale (natural) resources: Explore the opportunities and risks of community collaboration with corporate and government stakeholders to manage revenue from large-scale resources such as forests, fisheries, mineral deposits and gaming

Foundation Fundamentals – Quebec: A focus on foundation fundamentals, community engagement, profile raising and more. This session will focus primarily on opportunities and regulations for foundations based and operating in Quebec and will take place in French.

Site Visits

As part of the pre-conference program during the morning of May 11, the 2017 Site Visits will offer participants an opportunity to tour a variety of locations unique to the community of Ottawa. Space is limited for each Site Visit so please register early.

Operation Come Home: Visit this innovative social enterprise and youth-centred organization to experience how OCH is helping street-involved youth reach their highest potential through a range of services and educational opportunities (20 participants, English tours only).

Just Food Farm: Learn about local agriculture initiatives and discover how Ottawa, as a Good Food City, is working towards vibrant, just and sustainable food and farming systems (50 participants, English tours only).

Centre for Social Enterprise Development: Tour this leading-edge work environment and learn how CSED is helping social enterprises start and grow across the community of Ottawa (35 participants, English tours only).

Experience Ottawa Tours

Connect by Canoe Journey: Join in on the final leg of waterways journey of respect, reciprocity, and Reconciliation by travelling from Dow’s Lake to the Rideau Locks on Indigenous heritage canoes. Presented by the Canadian Canoe Museum (30 participants, bilingual in Anishinabe and English).

ByTown Museum and Rideau Canal Locks: Learn about the construction of the Rideau Canal locks, a UNESCO Heritage site, and explore the early history of Canada’s capital through a visit to the ByTown Museum (60 participants, English and French available, $7.50).

Rideau Hall Tour: Visit the historic Rideau Hall grounds where Canada’s Governor General fulfills official duties and take in a magnificent collection of art and furniture as well as a special exhibition on Canadian honours (40 participants, English and French available).

Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Arts Institute: Visit the Canada’s only campus for the iconic international Le Cordon Bleu culinary school and get a behind-the-scenes look at how students from around the world bring their passion for food and pastry to life (15 participants, English and French available).